Artificial bait.



PATENTED APR. 5, 1904.- H. ST. 0. REYNOLDS. I

ARTIFICIAL BAIT.

APPLICATION FILED F113. 5, 1904.

in) MODEL.

UNITE STATES Patented April 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTIFICIAL BAIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 56,527, dated April 5, 1904.

Application filed February 5, 1904:. Serial No! 192,109.. (No model.)

To all w/wm, it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, HARRY ST. CLAIR REY- NOLDS, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Artificial Bait; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a top or plan view of an artificial bait constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a side view of the same with a float attached; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the legs detached; Fig. 4, a top or plan View of a modified form of body which may be employed in the construction of my device; Fig. 5, a side view of the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in artificial bait for fishing, and particularly for casting or trolling. It is well known that some fish are attracted by motion rather than by shape; and the object of this invention is to produce a device which will simulate the motion of a frog; and the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

In carrying out my invention I employ a body A, which may be formed from sheet metal, adapted to be connected at one end with a line-swivel B and to have the usual hook or hooks C attached to the rear end. On each side of the body are sockets D, formed by doubling the metal, and in "these sockets legs E are pivoted, these legs terminating in downwardly extending bowed feet F. As the device is drawn through the water the force of the water acting upon the bowed feet F will move them outward, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. Then if the line he slackened they will swing inward toward the body, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and so by thus moving out and in they simulate the swimming movements of a frog.

If desired, a float G may be secured to the top of the body, as shown in Fig. 2, although this is not always necessary.

Instead of forming the body with outwardlyextending sockets the body may be formed from a strip of sheet metal doubled at its forward end, forming two plates H and I, between which the legs may be pivoted, lugs J being turned inward from one member to limit the extent to which the plates are drawn together and to form stops to limit the movement of the leg, and instead of turning the feet downward from the ends of the legs they may project upward. In other words, the position of the legs may be reversed from that shown. I therefore do not wish to .be understood as limiting the invention to the exact form shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such departures therefrom as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An artificial bait comprising a body, legs pivoted thereto said legs provided at their outer ends with bowed feet, substantially as described.

2. An artificial bait comprising a body, legs pivoted thereto said legs provided at their outer ends with downwardly-extending bowed feet, substantially as described.

3. An artificial bait comprising a body, with sockets projecting outward on opposite sides thereof, legs pivotally connected with said sockets, said legs terminating in downwardlyextending bowed feet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY ST. CLAIR REYNOLDS.

W'itnesses:

FREDERIO C. EARLE, CLARA L. WEED. 

